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Jaxson Hayes

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Deandre Ayton said he wanted to show Lakers he's committed to defense

@lebron_wire

LeBron Wire

Deandre Ayton said he wanted to show Lakers he's committed to defense

Deandre Ayton aims to anchor the Lakers’ defense, trading some scoring for rim protection and boards. In Friday’s preseason he notched two blocks and eight rebounds in 18 minutes, signaling a defensive commitment.

If he stays anchored in the paint and controls second chances, the Lakers could lift their ceiling with LeBron and the rest of the lineup benefiting from higher defensive efficiency and cleaner transition opportunities.

What is Ayton's defensive ceiling for the Lakers this season?How might Ayton's presence alter LeBron's role on defense and offense?What late-season bets become more appealing with Ayton anchoring the paint?Will Hayes' role change significantly with Ayton starting?

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@Deandre Ayton | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA

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https://lebronwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2..

September 30, 2025

Deandre Ayton not taking his 'last chance' for granted with Lakers - Los Angeles Times

@thucnhi21

Los Angeles Times

Ayton arrives in Los Angeles for a high-stakes revival, joining Doncic and LeBron as a centerpiece on a Lakers roster built for a championship push. Smart upgrades the defense after a buyout-filled spell, while Hachimura, Hayes and Kleber add versatile depth. Redick preaches championship conditioning as the Lakers chase meaningful records and Ayton looks to regain the dominance he flashed in Phoenix.

Which Lakers rotation changes most influence Ayton’s fantasy output this season?What is the safest way to draft this Lakers core for fantasy?Which matchup types should fantasy owners target for LA’s bigs?What are the biggest red flags for this Lakers group in fantasy terms?

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Boston Celtics | NBA

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@Marcus Smart | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA

@Maxi Kleber | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA

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@Rui Hachimura | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA

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https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2025-0..

September 12, 2025

Lakers 3 goals: Jaxson Hayes needs to contribute off the bench

@lebron_wire

LeBron Wire

Lakers 3 goals: Jaxson Hayes needs to contribute off the bench

Lakers camp highlights Jaxson Hayes stepping into a primary bench role, focusing on boxing out, high-energy defense, and rim protection to fix interior gaps. Hayes’ rebounding upside and transition finishing could lift LA’s second unit, especially with Maxi Kleber in the mix and the Luka Doncic trade context shaping rotations. If Hayes stays engaged, the Lakers could surprise with tougher defense and quicker bursts.

Based on Hayes' three goals for 2025-26, what fantasy value can we expect from him when coming off the bench?How does Maxi Kleber's presence affect Hayes' ceiling in the Lakers' frontcourt rotation?What does the Luka Doncic trade backdrop imply about Lakers' frontcourt rotations and DFS decisions?Which week-to-week windows could maximize Hayes' fantasy impact given the 2025-26 Lakers setup?

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@Jaxson Hayes | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA

@Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks | NBA

@Maxi Kleber | Dallas Mavericks | NBA

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https://lebronwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2..

September 10, 2025

3 Free Agent Forwards Lakers Should Target If LeBron James Leaves in 2026

Alex Kirschenbaum

Sports Illustrated

3 Free Agent Forwards Lakers Should Target If LeBron James Leaves in 2026

Lakers land Luka Doncic on a three-year extension and reshape around him with Ayton, LaRavia, Hayes, and Smart, aiming to maximize Doncic’s playmaking while shoring up defense and interior presence. LeBron’s expiring deal keeps options open, with a speculative path to 2027 stars Jokic or Giannis. The piece also surveys high-end free-agent targets (Durant, Wiggins, Collins, Harden) and notes a patient, two-year roster plan designed to stay flexible for big moves while navigating cap realities.

With Doncic extended and Ayton added, what is the Lakers’ immediate fantasy strategy for drafting weeks?How should owners approach Ayton and LaRavia in multi-position leagues this season?What is Smart’s ceiling in assists and steals if he plays alongside Doncic?Should fantasy managers target LeBron’s keeper value given the expiring deal?

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@Dorian Finney-Smith | Houston Rockets | NBA

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@Jake LaRavia | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA

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https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/news/3-free-agent-fo..

August 25, 2025

The Lakers have added a center to their roster

@lebron_wire

LeBron Wire

The Lakers have added a center to their roster

Los Angeles added Kylor Kelley to its center mix on an Exhibit 10 contract, aiming to bolster Ayton's spellings behind him. Ayton's star potential remains, with Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber backing up the bigs. Kelley, seven feet, undrafted in 2020, spent last season with South Bay in the G League, posting 11.1 points on 67.4% FG, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 24.3 minutes, after brief NBA stints with Dallas and New Orleans and a season in Italy. The move signals depth-building ahead of training camp.

What does this Lakers center shuffle signal about their fantasy ceiling for Ayton and Hayes this season?Does Kelley’s Exhibit 10 status introduce any roster-risk that fantasy managers should monitor?How might Kleber’s shooting spacing affect Ayton’s efficiency and fantasy production?What late-training-camp implications exist for the Lakers’ backup centers and potential waiver moves?

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@Deandre Ayton | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA

@Jaxson Hayes | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA

@Kylor Kelley | New Orleans Pelicans | NBA

@Maxi Kleber | Dallas Mavericks | NBA

https://lebronwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2..

October 4, 2025

Deandre Ayton said he wanted to show Lakers he's committed to defense

@lebron_wire

LeBron Wire

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